I love Joe Biden and don't have a favorite yet, so I feel comfortable saying

[EffieBlack]

“No, Mr. Vice President. Just no. You to need to fix this. Stop talking and start listening - and not just to people who say they weren’t offended.”

[charlyvi]

1. Exactly, EffieBlack.

Carefully listening would be the best thing he could do. I don't think Joe is a racist; like you, I love him. But he needs to address this odd tone-deafness he has when faced with his gaffes.

[Cha]

2. I appreciate that there's this..

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287158531#top

[Skittles]

3. thank you

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. Well said.

[USALiberal]

5. He is making a lot of mistakes. Nt

[MBS]

12. This is also my concern.

Joe is a good man, with a distinguished record of public service. And he is for sure not a racist; that is not my concern at all.

My concern is the recent series of poorly timed or poorly worded remarks, even those that do not quite rise to the level of "gaffe."

A crucial general election is upon us, and the Democratic nominee along with the DNC and other Democratic candidates for Congress and for local offices, will have to battle (and vanquish) lies, dirty tricks, voter-suppression efforts, and election-meddling from enemies both foreign and domestic. The winning candidate (please, please may this be our Democratic nominee) will have lot of very hard work to do as president to help us rescue the country.

Thus, our nominee has to be someone in top form, pretty much 24/7. That means, as much as super-humanly possible: no gaffes, a compelling message, thoughtful and broad and forward-looking perspective, boots-on-the ground campaigning, plenty of stamina, and smart political strategy–  in order both to win the election, and to help put our country back together.
As fond as I am of Joe Biden, I am not seeing enough evidence of these qualities in his campaign so far.

[tishaLA]

6. I agree with you. And I wish those of us...

Who are critical of his comments weren't accused of trying to stoke phony outrage. First, I'm not outraged; I simply think he made a misstep. Nor am I calling him racist; I simply believe he could choose any other complete asshole from his time in the Senate--Arlen Specter or Orrin Hatch come to mind--and use them as examples of getting along instead of a pair of segregationists.

I'll be happy to vote for him in November, 2020, but right now I think he's out of fighting shape politically.

[pnwmom]

8. AND instead of a pair of hateful Democratic segregationists.

How does it benefit the party to remind people of them?

[EffieBlack]

11. I agree with much of what you've said

People need to understand that pointing out someone’s insensitivity or missteps on matters of race isn’t the same as calling them a racist and doesn’t discount good work they’ve done on civil rights. People who really get it understand and appreciate being checked on things like this because they know that enlightenment is a journey along a continuum, not an ultimate achievement entitling one to sit back on their laurels with no further growth to be had.

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. +1 n/t

[robbedvoter]

17. +1000!

[pnwmom]

7. I thought Cory Booker did very well on Maddow tonight. Did you happen to see him? n/t

[JoeOtterbein]

9. Thanks EffieBlack! nt

[California_Republic]

10. Listen to Mayor Pete.

Learn. He has a great style and his answers are spot on

[Honeycombe8]

14. Did you read the eulogy?

Here it is.

https://americanrhetoric.com/speeches/joebidenstromthurmondeulogy.htm

Not sure exactly what statements of his you're speaking about, but most people don't know what he's said about Thurmond. Here's one of the biggest complaints against him....giving a eulogy at Thurmond's funeral.

[EffieBlack]

15. I wasn't talking about Thurmond's eulogy

Have you been following the news?

[Honeycombe8]

16. You didn't identify what statement(s) you're referring to. I can only guess.

Biden speaks every day, of course. Which statement are you referring to? I assumed it was the eulogy, since that's what started it all.

[EffieBlack]

18. You seriously don't know?

If you’d been following the news - or even just reading this board - you would have known exactly what I was talking about. It’s been a big story for days.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/06/19/joe-biden-james-eastland-herman-talmadge-segregationists-civility/?utm_term=.9b95a6428825